People
with diabetes are at increased risk for infection from hepatitis B
partly due to their higher exposure to contaminated surfaces such as
lancing devices and blood glucose meters, as well as lapses in infection
control by healthcare workers. This, in part, led to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP) to recommend vaccination in 2011 to all
unvaccinated adults ages 19-59 years, as soon as feasible after
diagnosis of diabetes. Though it has been three years since the CDC's
recommendations, currently less than one-third of people with diabetes
in the U.S. have been vaccinated against hepatitis B. Additionally, the
survey of diabetes educators found more than half (54 percent) say their
adult patients with diabetes are not aware that "as a person with
diabetes, it is even more important that I get my vaccinations."
"People
with diabetes, ages 23-59 years, may have approximately a two-fold
increased risk of hepatitis B infection compared to those without
diabetes. Therefore, this National Diabetes Month we are reinforcing the
importance of hepatitis B vaccination as a priority topic of
conversation between people with diabetes and their healthcare team,
including diabetes educators," said Deborah Fillman, MS, RD, LD, CDE, Chair, AADE Foundation and Past President, AADE.
LOW PATIENT AWARENESS ABOUT HEPATITIS B RISK AND VACCINATION
"Hepatitis
B is a health concern for people with diabetes, yet unfortunately, many
are not aware that they have a higher risk of developing hepatitis B
and a higher risk of death from the disease," said Leonard Friedland,
M.D., Vice President, Director Scientific Affairs and Public Health,
GSK Vaccines North America. "Taking action to facilitate hepatitis B
discussion among diabetes educators, providers and patients is a step we
must take toward increasing vaccination rates and lowering the
incidence of hepatitis B in this at-risk population."
In
the survey, diabetes educators cite a lack of awareness among their
patients about the hepatitis B vaccination. Only 15 percent say their
patients know about the CDC's recommendations.
DIABETES EDUCATORS FACE MANY BARRIERS TO EDUCATING PATIENTS ABOUT HEPATITIS B VACCINATION
Time
is a limitation for diabetes educators. The survey found that diabetes
educators prioritize educating their patients on lifestyle and behavior
management versus vaccinations:
- Seventy-two percent say setting goals and improving patient self-care habits are their priorities
- Just seven percent say that ensuring that patients receive the
recommended vaccinations is a priority they have for their patients
DISCONNECT BETWEEN AWARENESS AND BELIEFS
The
survey also found a lack of awareness of the CDC's recommendations, yet
a belief that hepatitis B vaccination is an important topic to discuss
with their patients.
- The majority of respondents (52 percent) are unaware of the specific CDC recommendations
- In fact, 74 percent say their hepatitis B vaccination education
efforts have remained the same over the past three years since the CDC
issued its recommendations
- Even with the lack of awareness around the CDC recommendations,
nearly 80 percent feel that it is very or somewhat important for their
adult patients with diabetes to be educated about hepatitis B
- However, most diabetes educators either do not educate their
patients about hepatitis B vaccination (38 percent) or rely on primary
care physicians, endocrinologists and other health providers to give
patients this information (25 percent)
"Changing
the paradigm around hepatitis B education requires that all
stakeholders work together to encourage vaccination," said Joan Bardsley,
MBA, RN, CDE, FAADE President, AADE. "To that end, AADE is issuing a
clear call to action with our membership and others in the diabetes
community to employ strategies to improve education about hepatitis B
and highlight vaccinations during patient visits."
PEOPLE WITH DIABETES AT INCREASED RISK
Hepatitis
B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus. The virus is 50
to 100 times more infectious than HIV. Chronic hepatitis B infection is
associated with high morbidity and mortality and can cause cirrhosis and
liver cancer. For the 29.1 million Americans living with diabetes,
there is a higher risk of contracting hepatitis B compared to the
general population due to many factors, including the ability of
hepatitis B to survive outside the body on surfaces such as lancing
devices and blood glucose meters, as well as lapses in infection control
by healthcare workers.
For a link to the GSK hepatitis B and diabetes electronic press kit, click
here.
About the SurveyAADE
and GSK commissioned an online survey of 1,000 AADE members. The goals
of the survey were to determine the level of awareness among diabetes
educators of the CDC recommendations to vaccinate adults with diabetes,
how diabetes educators typically inform their patients, and what level
of awareness exists among AADE members' patients about vaccinations,
hepatitis B vaccination specifically.
The
survey was conducted by Reckner, a national consumer opinion research
company, for AADE and GSK, with financial support from GSK. The survey
was fielded between August 21 and September 2, 2014. For some survey questions, respondents could answer with more than one response.
About the American Association of Diabetes Educators AADE
is dedicated to empowering people with diabetes to live full and
healthy lives. Diabetes educators are nurses, dietitians, pharmacists
and other health professionals who work in partnership with doctors and
other healthcare providers to help people manage all the daily aspects
of diabetes care, from healthy eating and being active to problem
solving and healthy coping. AADE was founded in 1973 and today has more
than 14,000 members. Learn more or find a diabetes educator at
www.diabeteseducator.org.
About GSK GSK
– one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and
healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human
life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For
further information please visit
http://us.gsk.com/.
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